In some cases it is common to use the same symbol to refer to a mathematical relation and to instances of the relation. For example, >
as the relation of being greater than and x>y
for the instance saying that x
is greater than y
.
You can manipulate relations for example
>' = > \cup \{(x,y)\}
Normally, TeX automatically adds (the right) amount of space around math relations and binary operators. However, the spacing must be adjusted manually in scenarios like the example above, for example:
{>'} = {>} \cup \{(x,y)\}
\mathord{>}' = \mathord{>} \cup \{(x,y)\}
I wonder if there are ways to handle situations like the one above automatically (beside the solutions above or defining commands for the relations, e.g., \newcommand{\greater}{\mathord{>}}
, and then
\greater' = \greater \cup \{(x,y)\}